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LA police find pot stash in railroad tanker

by AP

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A late-night police pursuit has ended with a drug bust and the discovery of thousands of pounds of marijuana concealed in a railroad tank car near downtown Los Angeles.

[Update 2:25 p.m.] Police Detective Gus Villanueva said numerous bundles of pot were removed from the gooey inside of the petroleum rail tanker by late Monday morning and many more packages were still inside. Investigators used Fire Department ladders to reach the hatch atop the tanker. Marijuana removed from inside was lowered to the ground by bucket.

The marijuana discovery occurred after officers tried to halt a vehicle traveling erratically east of downtown at about 11 p.m. Sunday and the driver refused to stop. The chase ended near the rail yard in Commerce and the trio was arrested.

Officers noticed an oily substance on the suspects' clothing and found bundles of marijuana coated with oil in the car.